LANDSCOPE Summer 2020–21 Preview

WA’S PARKS, WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION MAGAZINE

Volume 36 Number 2 Summer 2020–21 $7.95

WETLAND WONDERLAND

Yellagonga Regional Park

Indigenous led conservation Aboriginal rangers on country

Unlocking learning outdoors

Outdoor classroom revolution

Collie adventures

WA’s trail town

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The south-w est corner of and gneiss Cape Le Grand peaks National Park home to pygmy that rise from the coastal feature possums, western plain and rolling s massive granite wildflowers heathlands grey kangaro including dense that are os and campgrounds, thickets of showy banksia a diversity of colourf so fine it squeakone at picture-perfec ul . The park has t Lucky Bay two where the clear and invitings underfoot. The turquoi pristine white se water in sand views in every . A coastal walk trail the passes through sheltered bay is crystal is direction, includin Lucky Bay and g out to sea has spectac to the Recherc ular he Archipe lago.

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WA Naturally Publications Email customer.service@dbca.wa.gov.au Phone (08) 9219 9000 Fax (08) 9219 9299 Free post Post with payment in a sealed envelope to: Reply Paid 25, Locked Bag 29, Bentley DC WA 6983 @waparkswildlife

GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Contributing

Foreword Kendall O’Connor is a communications officer with DBCA’s Public Information and Corporate Affairs branch. She has always enjoyed exploring WA’s national parks and attractions and was lucky enough recently to live and work in regional WA working as a reporter covering stories from Albany in the South Coast to sunny Karratha in the Pilbara region. She is a qualified scuba diver and enjoys exploring the waters off the coast of Exmouth and south-west WA.

Griffin Longley is a former journalist and the CEO of Nature Play WA. Griffin has led the nature play movement in WA for the past 10 years and helped set up Nature Play organisations in WA, SA, Queensland and Canberra. In 2017, he led the development of the Nature Passport app in Seattle, USA. He believes play and a connection to nature are essential to a healthy and happy childhood, and to a sustainable future.

Felicity Kelly is an interpretation officer in DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service in Exmouth. After volunteering with the Ningaloo Turtle Program in the summer of 2009 she nurtured her keen passion for wildlife and the marine environment.

She loves the spectacular coastline in and around Ningaloo and devotes her time to protecting the coastal biodiversity through engagement and communications programs.

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he intrinsic connection that Aboriginal people have with land and sea is becoming increasingly entrenched in decision making around how the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) manages and cares for Western Australia’s conservation estate.

Why? Because successive State Governments have been required to address the contention between Aboriginal aspirations for lands rights recognition via the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993 and the creation of a conservation reserve system under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act).

The two interests of ‘conservation’ and ‘Aboriginal culture and heritage’ are more closely aligned than you’d think, and there is a strong desire from governments and claimants to develop meaningful, sustainable and beneficial outcomes for Aboriginal traditional owners.

Since the UNESCO Convention on Biological Diversity signed by 150 governments in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, we have worked our way through both legal challenges and policy obstacles, while at the same time observing gradual attitudinal change and a willingness of all sections of society to ‘close the gap’.

In 2011, changes to the CALM Act provided a statutory framework for joint management and Aboriginal customary activities and the Conservation Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (2011 amendments) enabled Aboriginal groups to have a formal role in the management of Western Australia’s parks and reserves.

Since then, 35 existing and proposed parks and reserves are jointly managed through formal arrangements with Aboriginal people (see ‘Joining hands for Nyinggulu’, page 34).

The most recent was announced by the Ministers for Aboriginal Affairs and Environment at Mina Mina near Patjarr on 28 October 2020 for the joint management of Pila Nature Reserve (formerly Gibson Desert Nature Reserve) with the Warnpurru Aboriginal Corporation. This equates to 22 per cent of the State’s conservation reserve system.

The CALM Act amendments, joint management and joint vesting of country have formed an important part of the agreement process between the State and traditional owners by meeting the shared objectives of both groups ‘to care for country’. They are a major plank in our reconciliation actions plan and DBCA acknowledges the ‘importance of place’ in Aboriginal culture and heritage. We will continue to develop deeper awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture and celebrate the continuance of the oldest living culture on the planet. We invite you join us on this journey and experience culture in national parks and reserves with our Aboriginal traditional owners.

Peter Sharp, Executive Director, Parks and Visitor Services Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

ON THE COVER Front cover Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) perched in a marri tree, Yellagonga Regional Park.

Photo – Sallyanne Cousans Back cover Swamp paperbark trees (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla) in the wetlands of Yellagonga Regional Park.

Photo – Colin Ingram

LANDSCOPE 3

Contents Volume 36 Number 2 Summer 2020–21 Editor Lauren Cabrera.

Editorial assistance Emma de Burgh.

Scientific/technical advice Margaret Byrne, Steve Crawford, Lesley Gibson, John Huisman, Lachie McCaw. Design and production coordinator Tiffany Taylor.

Design Lynne Whittle, Natalie Curtis, Katie Bryden, Karen Shaddock, Gooitzen van der Meer.

Illustration Gooitzen van der Meer.

Cartography Promaco Geodraft.

Business management Nitin Solanki.

Phone (08) 9219 9002.

Prepress and printing Advance Press, Western Australia.

All material copyright. No part of the contents of the publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publishers.

Maps should be used as a guide only and not for navigational purposes.

ISSN 0815-4465 Please do not send unsolicited material, but feel free to contact the editor by email (landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au).

Published by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia. © State of Western Australia, December 2020.

Subscription information Annual subscriptions to LANDSCOPE are available for $33* (four issues plus free postage within Australia). *Overseas subscriptions add $22.

For more information contact us: On the web shop.dbca.wa.gov.au By email landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au By phone (08) 9219 9903 By free post Reply Paid 25, Locked Bag 29, Bentley DC, Western Australia 6983 To purchase LANDSCOPE online, visit shop.dbca.wa.gov.au/landscope @waparkswildlife

LANDSCOPE is printed on recycled paper which is certified carbon neutral, contains 55 per cent recycled fibre and is made from pulp, which is derived from well-managed forests, controlled and recycled sources.

This page Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus).

Photo – Janine Guenther

Features 8

Parks for people: Yellagonga Regional Park Exploring a wetland wonderland

12 Indigenous led conservation: Empowering people, community and connection to country

Social outcomes of WA’s Aboriginal Ranger Program 18 A golden year for Nuytsia

Celebrating 50 years of WA's taxonomic journal 25 Adventure out: Marmion snorkel trail

New snorkel trail in Marmion Marine Park 28 Not the Collie you know

Transitioning into a trail town 34 Joining hands to care for Nyinggulu

Historic agreement to jointly manage the Ningaloo Coast 40 Watching over Wadjemup: Rottnest Island’s loyal volunteers

Plants, partnerships and persistence 46 The irresistible honey possum

Recording the tiny, beloved native fauna 49 Yoshi finds home

Determined loggerhead turtle settles in WA 50 Unlocking learning outdoors

Outdoor Classroom Day is revolutionising learning

Regulars 3

From the desk of Peter Sharp A foreword from Executive Director, Parks and Visitor Services.

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Bush Telegraph Short stories from around the State and a guest word.

11 Discovered

Summer stylewort (Levenhookia spp.).

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In Review A collection of books and applications.

53 Kaleidoscope

Connecting kids with nature.

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Nature’s pin-up Swamp paperbark (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla).

LANDSCOPE 5

Bush telegraph by Lauren Cabrera

READERS’ PIC Narrow-lipped hammer orchid (Drakaea thynniphila) Photo and words by Rob Horler “I took this photo last September at Crusoe Beach near Denmark and was actually taking the shot of the narrow-lipped hammer orchid, (Drakaea thynniphila) when this Christmas beetle landed at the base of the stem of the orchid. It began its ascent up the stem while I was still taking pictures on its climb. When the beetle reached the top, I was lucky enough to snap him just as he was about to take off from the flower. ” Have you got a fantastic nature photograph you would like to see published in LANDSCOPE? Send it, along with a 100-word description of the species or how and where you took the shot, to landscope@dbca.wa.gov.au.

Ten-year hiking strategy

New Munda Biddi Trail and Bibbulmun Track southern terminus Users of the Munda Biddi Trail or the Bibbulmun Track will soon enjoy a new terminus in the heart of Albany adjacent to the statue of Mokare, a Minang man famed for guiding Europeans through the walking trails used and maintained by Noongar people over generations in the area.

The southern terminus of the 1000km trails is currently at Proudlove Parade near the old visitor centre, and the new terminus will be at the Alison Hartman Gardens on York Street, adjacent to the new visitor centre.

The appealing southern terminus will feature large trail head panels for photo

opportunities, square benches for hiker and biker lay out spaces, bike racks and timber decking.

Minor realignments of the trails will lead walkers and hikers into and out of the new terminus, which is most commonly the end point for those who began their journey from the northern terminus in either Kalamunda or Mundaring near Perth.

Funding has been provided by the Great Southern Development Commission and through the economic stimulus package with construction is due to be completed by December 2020.

Above Artist’s impression of the new terminus.

Right Hiking the southern coastline of WA near Albany.

Photo – Peter Reid

6 LANDSCOPE

A ten-year WA Hiking Strategy has been released to complement other trail strategies in WA. The hiking strategy focuses on traditional bushwalking and the emerging growth area of trail running, and will guide industry in the funding and development of hiking and trails for the next decade.

The State Government has allocated $250,000 over the next three years to encourage participation.

The strategy was developed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, along with significant community input.

Bush telegraph

Spotlight on the chuditch It’s spotty, fluffy and downright adorable, but WA’s largest carnivorous marsupial, the chuditch, is more than just a pretty face. Also known as the western quoll, this critter is recognised for its brown fur, distinctive white spots, pointed muzzle and brushy tail.

Sadly, the chuditch is a threatened species that is considered vulnerable to extinction. To raise awareness for the chuditch, kids around WA put on their creative hats to enter the Construct a Chuditch Challenge to design their very own chuditch using any materials they liked and share their favourite fun fact about the animal.

The winning entry belonged to 11-year-old Mia Fletcher, who constructed her chuditch from a collection of sticks and leaves.

“While making it, I learnt chuditch are nocturnal, have spots, eat insects and are vulnerable to cat predation,” said Mia. Winner of the people’s choice award, 12-year-old Breanna Heggie also used natural materials and recycled wire for her creation.

“I learnt that chuditch is the Noongar word for western quoll, and that they can live for up to four years in the wild,” said Breanna.

Right Mia Fletcher’s winning chuditch.

Photo – Fletcher family

Volunteer at the WA Herbarium The Western Australian Herbarium is the State collection of more than 810,000 preserved specimens of plants, algae, mosses, lichens, and fungi. The Herbarium runs a satisfying, interesting, and popular volunteer program. The program has been running for 30 years. Volunteers work with the Herbarium for many years, an indication of the stimulating and supportive environment the program provides. Herbarium volunteering programs include mounting specimens by sewing and taping dried pressed collections and accompanying labels onto archival board, processing electronic images of WA’s flora in ImageBank, the Herbarium’s image repository, and helping the collections management staff with curation projects. Due to training requirements, a commitment of at least three months is required, with a minimum of three hours per week. Please register your interest and skills by contacting the volunteer coordinator at herbarium@dbca.wa.gov.au

Left Volunteer mounting Cottonhead specimens.

Photo – DBCA

Guest column Ellis Griffiths President, Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association

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olunteering on Rottnest Island is an absolute joy.

The Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association (RVGA) has more than 300 committed and passionate members, and there is no shortage of applicants for the number of training places offered each year.

It has been estimated that if all volunteering was put together as one ‘employment’ sector it would be the largest such sector in Western Australia. The strength of volunteering is also a good measure of a society’s social capital.

There are many misconceptions about volunteering including that it is mainly a lifestyle choice for retirees. A smaller proportion of volunteers are retirees (31 per cent) compared to the proportion of those in full-time (38 per cent) or parttime employment (44 per cent). However, retirees on average volunteer for more hours per week.

There is overwhelming evidence of the health benefits of volunteering whether it is for intrinsic or extrinsic reasons. The most common reason for joining the RVGA is that our guides are passionate about Rottnest, whether this be the natural environment, the social and cultural history or its military heritage (see ‘Watching over Wadjemup: Rottnest Island’s loyal volunteers’, page 40).

Rottnest is unique. The story of Rottnest from a geological, evolutionary and Indigenous pre-history sense is fascinating, while the post-colonial story in the 19th century is a painful reminder of the injustices of the treatment of Aboriginal people.

By volunteering at Rottnest, the opportunities to indulge our passions and learn new things are endless. We can research, photograph, contribute to social media, conduct oral histories, provide star gazing tours for children, provide information on the marine and terrestrial environments and engage with people who are keen to find out more.

RVGA volunteers are able to enjoy a range of duties on the island from the West End, the Lighthouse, Guns and Tunnels to the Settlement to share the stories and to help make it a more memorable experience.

LANDSCOPE 7

Parks for people by Lauren Cabrera

Yellagonga Regional Park Yellagonga Regional Park delights young and old with its walk and cycle trails that wind through an array of lakes and wetlands, and is home to a variety of waterbirds, bush birds and other wildlife.

L

ocated approximately 20 kilometres from Perth and six kilometres from the Indian Ocean, Yellagonga is one of eleven regional parks within the Perth metropolitan area. The park was named in 1990 to honour Yellagonga, the leader of the Mooro people who inhabited the region north of the Swan River at the time of European settlement.

Clockwise top left to right Swamp paperbarks in Yellagonga. Photo – Colin Ingram; Motorbike frog (Litoria moorei).

Photo – Jiri Lochman; Large pansy orchid (Diuris magnifica). Photo – Cliff Winfield

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The park comprises around 1400 hectares, dominated by the beautiful lakes and wetlands across the landscape. The wetland systems include Lake Joondalup, Beenyup and Walluburnup swamps and Lake Goollelal.

It is of regional importance because of its natural, cultural and recreational resources in a rapidly growing suburban area. Additionally, the park provides an important north/south link with Neerabup National Park and Yanchep National Park.

Along the western shores are substantial areas of banksia woodland, jarrah, marri, tuart forest and vegetation communities that were once widespread

on the Swan Coastal Plain. The diversity of habitats caters for a variety of waterbirds, bush birds and other wildlife.

EXPLORING THE PARK Yellagonga is best explored from the historic site of Neil Hawkins Park, situated only a short stroll from Joondalup city centre. Nature lovers can walk through the native bushland that surrounds the 16-kilometre circuit around Lake Joondalup, home to wildlife such as long-necked turtles, frogs, kangaroos and a wide variety of birdlife.

The bushland adjacent to Duffy Terrace is an ideal place to see the park’s numerous kangaroos.

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Nature’s pin ups PRINT COLLECTION Artwork featured in LANDSCOPE magazine

Each edition of LANDSCOPE magazine features original artwork by artists Gooitzen van der Meer and Gwendolen Monteiro.

Using a water colour technique or acrylics, the pieces depict species featured in the magazine.

Prints of these beautiful pieces of artwork can now be purchased in A3, A4 or A5 size, printed on high quality art paper and delivered to your door, ready to be framed and hung somewhere special.

Proceeds from your purchase go towards managing and conserving WA’s plants, animals and natural environment.

To see the collection visit shop.dbca.wa.gov.au/collections/prints

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